When I Don't Want to Go to School

Devotional

Your stomach knows before you're even out of bed.

Maybe it's the test. Maybe it's the kid who said the thing on Friday, and you know you'll see him again today. Or maybe you can't even explain it. You just don't want to go. Home feels safe and out there feels hard.

That feeling is real. And God never says "quit being silly" to a kid who feels it. Not once, anywhere in the Bible.

Look at Joshua. God had a big job for him. He had to lead a whole nation into land they'd never lived in, and the guy who used to be in charge had just died. Joshua was scared. God knew it.

So God said, "Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Read that carefully. God did not say "be strong because you're tough enough." He said "be strong because I'm with you."

Those are really different. If your bravery has to come from inside you, you're going to run out of it. Everybody does. But if it comes from God being there, it never runs out, because he doesn't leave.

Moses said almost the same thing to the whole nation. "He will not leave you or forsake you."

That's two promises, not one. He won't let you down. And he won't walk away.

Now, how can God promise that?

Because he didn't just yell encouragement down from heaven. He came here.

Jesus came into this world with a real body. And he had hard days. People misunderstood him. People were mean to him. His own friends left him when things got scary. He knows what a hard day feels like from the inside.

And then he did the hardest thing anybody's ever done. He went to the cross for us. And three days later he was alive again.

And after that, here's what he told his friends: "I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Always. Not just on good days. Not just at church. Always.

Which means there is no hallway at your school where Jesus isn't already standing. No classroom. No lunch table. He got there before you did.

The Bible says it like this: "The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in."

Your going out. That's the front door in the morning. Your coming in. That's the front door after school. And every single step in between belongs to him.

Now I'm not going to tell you the day will be easy. It might be hard. The test might still be confusing. That kid might still say something that stings.

God doesn't promise to take all the hard stuff out of your day.

He promises something better. He promises he's coming with you.

So tomorrow morning, when your stomach starts up, you can just tell him. Say it plain: "I don't want to go and I'm nervous."

He won't be surprised.

Then walk out the door knowing he's already down the street waiting.

He'll be there when the bell rings, too.